Kuntanase (Ash), Dec. 4, GNA- Bosomtwi and Atwima Kwanwoma Districts' offices of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), have since the inception of the scheme in 2004, registered over 80,303 out of a population of 146,000.

Professor Peter Gyawu, Board Chairman of the District's NHIS, who announced this said the figure represented 55 per cent and attributed the growth to intensification of public education. He made this known at a durbar attended by chiefs and people of Kuntanase in the Bosomtwi district as part of the activities marking this year's NHIS week celebration.

Prof. Gyawu indicated that, since the inception of the scheme, it had recorded 141,533 hospital attendances, adding that, between January and September this year, 52,299 hospital attendances were recorded, representing 37 per cent of the total attendance for the four years. He said the increase was a demonstration of the peoples' understanding of the scheme and its benefits. The Board Chairman mentioned that, a total of GH¢23,000,000 premium had been collected while the government had also contributed GH¢188,000,000 as subvention for the exempt group such as people below 18 years, 70 years and above and the indigents as well. He said a total of GH¢211,000,000 had been paid to hospitals and health facilities as refund. He added that within three months of the inception of the free medical care for pregnant women, over 2,686 of them have benefited from the scheme from the two districts. Prof. Gyawu urged those who have not registered to do so to enable them also benefit from the scheme. Dr Mrs Agartha Akua Bonney, the District Director of Health for Bosomtwi, was emphatic that the scheme had come to stay and urged both the rich and poor to register in their own interest. Dr Mrs Bonney wondered why some people still go to hospital without the NHIS card and in the end, spent more than what they would have paid as premium.

She refuted an erroneous impression that NHIS card bearers were not treated well when they visited health facilities and cautioned those going round peddling false information about the scheme to stop since they were doing more harm to people than good. Mr James Fosu, the District Chief Executive for Bosomtwi, called on stakeholders in the various communities to lead the crusade of mass registration of NHIS saying, "A healthy nation is a wealthy nation." He appealed to the people to vote for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to enable them continue the good policies they have initiated for the development of the country. Mr Frank Adu, the Public Relations Officer for the scheme mentioned that the NHIS had reduced both infant and maternal mortality in the country as well as ensured an improvement in the lifestyles of people. He said the introduction of the five-year card for members was part of the review programme to enable the scheme to be strong and serve people better for the development of Ghana.